A few hours after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued and retracted a directive aimed at 'curbing' fake news, the Editors Guild of India issued a statement severely condemning the ministry's directive.
In a strongly-worded statement, the Guild said:
By notifying that the I&B Ministry will initiate such proceedings, the Government was arrogating for itself the role of policing the media. It would have opened the door for frivolous complaints to harass journalists and organisations to fall in line.
The Smriti Irani-led ministry had on Monday, 2 April, issued a directive which "amended" the Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists. The amended rule stated that upon receiving a complaint the Press Council of India and the News Broadcasters Association were mandated to determine if the news was fake within 15 days.
If the publication or telecast of fake news is confirmed, the accreditation of that journalist would be suspended for a period of six months in the first violation and for one year in case of a second violation. In case of a third violation, the journalist’s accreditation would be cancelled permanently.
The directive caused a massive uproar among journalists, with many condemning the new rule.
On 3 April, the PMO ordered the withdrawal of the directive, instructing the Press Council to address the matter.
Acknowledging the PMO's retraction of the directive, the guild further said that it remains disturbed over the fact that "faith continues to be reposed on the Press Council of India to deliver justice on such issues.”
Stating that the reconstitution of the Press Council had been done in a manner that gave chance to doubt its independence and neutrality, the guild also said that its recommendations to the council had been sidelined by the government.
Here is the full text of the Editor's Guild of India's statement:
“The Editors Guild of India strongly condemns the arbitrary manner contemplated by the Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry ostensibly to penalise any journalist or media organisation publishing fake news. By notifying that the I&B Ministry will initiate such proceedings, the Government was arrogating for itself the role of policing the media. It would have opened the door for frivolous complaints to harass journalists and organisations to fall in line.
The Guild acknowledges the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Office to withdraw the I & B Ministry’s notification but remains deeply disturbed that faith continues to be reposed on the Press Council of India to deliver justice on such issues. The recent reconstitution of the Press Council of India has been done in a manner that gives rise to doubts over the independence of the institution and its ability to play neutral umpire. The Guild’s nominees to the Council were disallowed on technical grounds. Also, the recent reconstitution of the Central Press Accreditation Committee has raised questions over the non-transparent processes being followed by the I&B Ministry as the Guild’s application was ignored.
The Guild also points out that 'fake news' is a process that cannot be left to governments to initiate action when, on many occasions, the governments and the parties in power - both at the Centre and states – are charged with propagating fake news themselves. Moreover, news organisations are not the only source of generation of fake news with the country awash with digital platforms of all hues and opinions that operate without constraints and have the potential to cause far more damage.
The Guild has always stood for observing the highest journalistic standards and is willing to work with the Central Government, state governments and media bodies to define what can be constituted as ‘fake news’ and take action against those found guilty of propagating such news without compromising on the independence and freedom of the media.”
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